What's Happening: Chomp the Block, 'POTUS,' Sunday Assembly, 'Early Cuban Exiles' and more

SEPT. 15

CHOMP THE BLOCK: Celebrate the Gators during Celebration Pointe’s Chomp the Block! The official block party of the Florida Gators is held every Friday before home football games. The events feature food and drinks from onsite restaurants and food trucks, live music, giveaways and games along with special appearances by University of Florida celebrities. Celebration Pointe is located just off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road. A Chomp the Block party is held each home-game Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. with a kids’ zone with child-friendly games such as a bounce house, face painting and balloon animals. The exclusive block parties are part of a comprehensive, ongoing partnership program with the Florida Gators. For more information, visit celebrationpointe.com.

SEPT. 15 THROUGH OCT. 1

“POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE”: Written by Selina Fillinger, “POTUS” is a foul-mouthed political funhouse farce. Roar with laughter as seven brilliant and beleaguered women panic, problem-solve and, ultimately, persevere to save the president from himself. Catch a show at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays through Sundays through Oct. 1 at the Hippodrome Theatre, 25 SE Second Place. Tickets are $20 to $50. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit thehipp.org.

SEPT. 17

SUNDAY ASSEMBLY: Sunday Assembly Gainesville will feature guest speaker XXX Music will be provided by Sunday Assembly musicians. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a secular congregation that celebrates life at 11 a.m. the third Sunday of each month. The group will meet at the Pride Center in the Liberty Center, 3131 NW 13th St. Vaccinations, boosters and face masks are recommended and encouraged. It also is possible to attend via zoom. Sunday Assembly Gainesville is a chapter of the Global Secular Sunday Assembly Movement. For more information, visit sagainesville.weebly.com or email SundayAssembly32601@gmail.com.

SEPT. 20

“EARLY CUBAN EXILES: MEMORIES OF LOSS, STRUGGLE AND REBIRTH”: Join in a conversation about the experience of Cuban exiles who came to the United States from 1959 through 1973 at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Matheson History Museum, 513 E. University Ave. During this free event, authors Mario Cartaya and David Powell will interview each other about their respective books — “Ninety Miles and a Lifetime Away: Memories of Cuban Early Exiles” and “Journey Back into the Vault: In Search of My Faded Cuban Childhood Footprints.” The program is happening in conjunction with the exhibition “We Are Here: Stories from Multilingual Speakers in North Central Florida.” Registration is required to attend. For more information, or to register, visit mathesonmuseum.org.

SEPT. 21

STEPS TO WELLNESS LUNCHEON: The seventh annual Steps to Wellness Luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 21. The Best Western Grand, 4200 NW 97th Blvd., will be the host for this transformative event centered around the theme “It Takes a Village.” This year’s luncheon is a celebration of community and a shared commitment to mental wellness. The event is organized by Meridian, an organization dedicated to promoting mental health and supporting those with substance-use disorders throughout North Central Florida. By embracing the power of collective action, the community aims to raise awareness about mental health and provide essential support to those on their journey to wellness. Guest speakers for the event include Demetric Watkins, president of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hillsborough County Tampa, a passionate advocate for mental health who has been a driving force in promoting awareness and understanding. Jamie Stormer, Psy.D, another guest speaker and the director of Children’s Outpatient Services at Meridian, brings a wealth of experience in supporting younger community members. Her dedication and expertise show how each member of the village can contribute to the future of children’s mental health. The event also will feature a silent auction. Pricing is $65 per ticket or $500 for a table of eight. For more information, or to register, visit mbhci.org/steps-to-wellness-luncheon.

SEPT. 22 THROUGH OCT. 8

“THE CRUCIBLE”: The Gainesville Community Playhouse is kicking off its 2023-24 season with “The Crucible.” In this exciting drama, the town of Salem falls into mass hysteria as a group of teenage girls accuse their neighbors of witchcraft in an attempt to avoid punishment after their own dabbling in the occult. This gripping retelling of the infamous Salem witch trials explores themes of the abuse of power, the destruction caused by false accusations, and the importance of standing up for truth and justice. Don’t miss this riveting story about the purge of witchcraft in old Salem. Catch a show at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 22 through Oct. 8, at the Gainesville Community Playhouse, 4039 NW 16th Blvd. Tickets are $23 for general admission, $19 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit gcplayhouse.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: What's Happening: Steps to Wellness Luncheon, 'The Crucible' and more